Last night’s general drinking #4

Last night we had a dinner party with some lovely friends. It went on well into the early hours of the morning, and a lot of wine was consumed.

Champagne Henriot 1996

Nice enough, but it seemed to be lacking a touch of rigour. It was reasonably complex and quite ripe, but not enough acidity for long-term ageing.

Riesling Spätlese Schlossböckelheimer Kupfergrube 1999, Helmut Dönnhoff

Good acidity and nice fruit. It was a touch closed, though, as it was going through an awkward middle-aged period. However, it did show that when it would be fully mature it would be a great Riesling spätlese.

Meursault Premier Cru Bouchères 2001, Domaine Roulot

A beautiful, complex, elegant and refined white Burgundy. It had enough fat to balance the fine acidity and was very long. It was slightly savoury, which I think is a good thing in white Burgundy. Many thanks to James and Katie for bringing along this excellent wine.

Pouilly-Fuissé la Roche 2003, Daniel Barraud

Very ripe and alcoholic. Quite hot. Not really balanced and the flavours were not so good. No.

Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1990 en magnum

Nice fruit and a good tannic structure, but it was really lacking a touch of complexity and style. Merely good.

Bandol 2001, Château de Pibarnon

Very ripe and fruity, with good, earthy complexity. Nice length and style. This was very good with cheese and a lovely wine. It’ll age exceptionally well.

Château Suduiraut 1988

Very good botrytis character. Rich and full-bodied but balanced by fine acidity. This was so good it was, in a way, a shame it was served after so many wines and it lost a bit of its shine.

Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues 2003, Domaine Santa Duc

Over-ripe with funky tannins and a strange melange of flavours. Not very nice at all.